Rechtervoet 1877 - 1880

Jac van Looij created this graphite sketch called "Rechtervoet," or "Right Foot," during a time when academic study and anatomical precision were central to artistic training. The sketch possesses a compelling intersection of vulnerability and strength, calling to mind the physical demands placed on the working class, while also speaking to the intimacy of the artist’s gaze. It's hard not to think about the history of feet in art, from the religious symbolism of Christ's feet to the eroticized imagery of the female foot in painting and photography. Van Looij's sketch invites us to contemplate the labor, movement, and even the unspoken stories held within this often-overlooked part of the human body. It is a reminder that even in the most seemingly simple of subjects, there exists layers of meaning waiting to be uncovered.